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November 23, 2008
 
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Printing
How
to Choose a Paper Stock
by
J.D. Miller, staff writer —
T
 here
are many factors to consider when choosing your project's paper. Many
people don't give this area much thought but it can greatly contribute
to or detract from the overall look of a printed piece. If you're considering
using something other than the plain white paper in the copy room, consider
things like:
Opacity
Opacity basically refers to
how much you can see through the paper. If you're printing a project on two sides,
with a lot of text, you'll want a good amount of opacity in your paper choice.
If you choose one that is not very opaque, the reader may be bothered by printed
material showing through from the other side.
 Thickness
This refers to how thick a page is. Sometimes, a paper that doesn't weigh very
much can still be very thick. Multi-page documents that have been printed on thick
pages appear to have more pages than they do. Thicker papers can cost more to
mail but may be mandatory if you're working on a project like a postcard. You
should also check that your printer can handle different paper thicknesses without
jamming.
Brightness
Brightness
refers to how much light is reflected off the paper. Coated
stocks reflect much more light than uncoated
stocks do. Though some brightness is preferable, be sure to get a
paper that will not reflect too much and hinder the reader from seeing
what's on the page. Also, keep in mind that some coated papers will not
absorb ink or toner so that it comes off in your hands. Be sure to run
a test sheet before making a big paper investment.
Final thoughts
Paper can be the most expensive part of a project and
should be chosen accordingly. A local paper supplier should be able to
supply you with advice and books of paper samples for you to choose from
if you require more than the standard white copy paper. 
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